Posted by Sandra I 20 December 2011
The Truth About New Year Resolutions!
The year is almost over and a new one looms just around the corner..........
But stop right there.
Before you shrug off 2011 and launch headfirst into 2012…………. How was it for you?
Did you achieve your most important goals? Are you on track? Did you even set any?
Statistics say that about 75% of us stick to our New Year goals for at least a week after Jan 1. But then less than half of us are still on track six months later!
It's part of our human makeup. We just have trouble making good on our New Year's resolutions!
It happens every year to so many of us. And the more we fall short on our goals, the less likely we are to set new ones.
Now that’s a BIG problem for those of us who actually want to better ourselves in some way in the upcoming months: mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, in relationships, careers, business . . . whatever.
Because, as some unknown writer once said, “In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia.”
Why Goals are a Good Thing
We want focus, direction and we want to have some way of knowing how to get there.
Goals give us direction, something to reach out for as we move along from day to day, week to week, month to month, year to year. Without them, we can find ourselves drifting through life, at the mercy of outside forces, unclear about what we want, who we are and where we are going.
When we are clear-eyed and committed to what we want to achieve, believe wholeheartedly in its importance and equip ourselves with the resources necessary for the task we stand a high chance of success.
When we don’t have goals, we can never achieve anything truly meaningful or satisfying, except by chance. We react and respond rather than take risks and face challenges. We go with the flow becoming part of another’s agenda, because we don’t have our own. We rarely experience the fear of failure or the thrills of success.
And, in the words of Pink Floyd, we grow “comfortably numb.”
Why Goals are a Bad Thing
Often however the mere mention of the word ‘goals’ is a complete turn-off.
We live and work in a culture governed by plans, targets, measurement and reporting. When we become over-ruled by process it is very easy to lose sight of the real vision and purpose that underpins our efforts.
Life and work becomes more about mechanics and delivery rather than satisfaction and meaning; more about task and duty rather than passion and desire. We forget the ‘being’ in our ‘doing’ and overlook the human aspects of our functioning.
We are encouraged to set stre-e-e-e-tch goals in order to develop and move forward, yet so often these actions involve doing things we dread or aren’t terribly good at, and so we procrastinate. Our energy and motivation fly straight out the window.
It gets even worse when we don’t actually achieve our goals making us feel totally discouraged and like a complete failure.
So What’s The Answer?
Actually, I believe that goals help us: they offer us a means to turn our ideas into meaningful action. Through pursuing our goals we can express our true selves, we can make the difference we want to make, and we can build progress.
The real problem lies in how we relate to goals and the goal setting systems and techniques we use. Despite goals and planning being such a significant part of our culture, I have rarely come across someone who is highly skilled in the process and consistently effective in implementation.
More often than not, we set ourselves up to ‘fail’ before we even get off the starting blocks.
But once you learn how to set goals that are right for you things can change dramatically.
By understanding the (very common) reasons why you’ve failed in the past and applying the right methods for turning them into meaningful, motivating action, you will not only be more confident about your success, you will also enjoy and appreciate the journey more than you might imagine. You will create, you will produce, you will follow your passion. And you will achieve.
So, if you would like to learn about an alternative goal setting process that will set you up for greater success in 2012, why not join our 21 Day Coaching Programme?
Starting on 21 January 2012, this unique, life changing programme will be filled with experiences and content that are guaranteed to leave you feeling energised and positive about making 2012 YOUR Best Year Yet!
Every day, for 3 weeks, I will team up with fellow coach, Julie Marah of Hows Your LIfe Coaching in order to work with you to develop your own refreshingly different approach to changing and improving on any aspect of your life that you choose.
Read more here or, take a trip directly to Julie’s website for further information and booking details by clicking here
Whatever way you choose to go, I wish you a successful and prosperous 2012!
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